Fixture trap and drain pipe stoppage preventer



Nov. 8, 1932. P. w. HEUACKER 1,886,676

FIXTURE TRAP AND DRAIN PIPE STOPPAGE PREVENTER Filed Sept. 30, 1951 .279 X'ffezzagfil BY I Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIXTURE TRAP AND DRAIN PIPE STOPPAGE PBEVENTER Application filed September 3O, 1931. Serial No. 566,119.

This invention relates to a fixture, trap and drain pipe, stoppage preventer and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a stoppage preventer as stated, which is of simple and durable structure, and can be easily applied to the cross bars located inside of a fitting which forms a part of a fixture trap, directly connected to a wash bowl, pedestal, bath tub, or kitchen sink, in which latter case the device is placed on cross bars found upon lifting out or unscrewing a perforated brass and nickled strainer, and when in position will catch material such as fiber, hair, lint, matches, or any small articles that otherwise might wash down into the trap obstructing its passage way in part or entirely;or lodge in bends or turns in pipes in wall or in floor drains. When a suflicient mass of said material has accumulated upon the stoppage preventer the same may be readily removed by inserting a hairpin with a small hook at its endor some other implement placed under one of the arms of the catching device thereby lifting same off of the cross bars and so up out of the fixture bodily with its deposit of hair, lint, etc.; foreign matter that may have collected, and thereby preventing the usual annoyance of a partial or entire stoppage in said fixtures and pipes of the plumbing system. The same may be freed from its collection and reused, or entirely discarded and another new stoppage preventer replaced upon the bars as before in which case the plumbing fixture is again ready for operation.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the stoppage preventer.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stoppage preventer, showing the parts thereof bent up ready to be applied to bars found inside of a fixture outlet fitting.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the stoppage preventer applied to the bars of a fixture outlet fitting. (Looking down.)

Figure 1 is another perspective view of both outlet fitting and stoppage preventer showing the device in place resting upon the bars of same ready for use.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a plumbing fixture with parts broken away and parts shown in section and indicating the position of the stoppage preventer placed upon the bars ready for use.

The device hereinafter to be describedmay be applied to the cross bars of the outlet fitting of a plumbing fixture which fitting is part of the waste connection and trap section and is used with pedestals, wash basins, bath tubs, showers, and kitchen sinks, and its purpose is to catch or arrest and to accumulate hair, lint, pins, matches, fiber, or any small articles that may otherwise wash down into the fixture trap or drain pipes and lodge therein forming partial or permanent stoppages in the plumbing system, such deposits being prevented by the installation of said stoppage preventer as above described. The article or device may be designed and stamped out of sheet flexible aluminum or other suitable non-corrosive and pliable material. The stoppage preventer consists namely of a center portion 1 having arms 2 radiating therefrom. The inner portions of the arms 2 are smooth and avoid pricking the fingers when device is bent into shape for use, and the edges of the arms 2 toward the outer ends of the said arms are provided with inwardly disposed prongs 3 for the purpose of readily catching and accumulating any foreign matter that might cause a stoppage either in strainer fitting, trap, or bends, turns, or fittings of drain pipes. Originally the stoppage preventer is in Figure 1 of the drawing. When it is desired to apply the device to the cross bars of the the form as shown in plumbing fixture outlet fitting the smooth portions at the inner ends of arms 2 are firmly held between the thumb and fingers and the said arms are bent down with relation to the center portion 1 and assume the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The stoppage preventer is then placed upon the cross bars 1 by lowering same down into fixture outlet fitting 5 and with the aid of a bent hair pin or other implement with a small hook at its end may be readily removed for the purpose of adjustment or otherwise as shown best in Figure 3 and Figure 4 of the drawing.

Inasmuch as the points of the prongs 3.

are upwardly disposed when the stoppage;

preventer is in position upon the cross bars of the fitting, any fibrous material, as for instance, hair, lint, or small articles will lodge upon the prongs 3 which will retain same. At intervals of time as stated before, a hair pin, wire or similar instrument may be directed down into outlet fitting and engaged under one of the arms 2 and the stoppage preventer with its collection may be lifted out of the fixture and disposed of entirely and a new and clean one replaced upon the cross bars.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1s: I

A stoppage preventer consisting of a body of pliable non-corrosive material having a central portion and arm portions radiating therefrom, said arm portions being pointed at their outer ends, the outer edge portions of the arms having prongs the points of which are disposed away from the points at the ends of the arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix m y signature. FREDERICK WILLIAM HEUACKER. 

